Three daily rituals for furr care

As the proud owner of four beautiful longhaired cats, grooming them is a special part of my daily routine. Cats are known for keeping their own fur clean and well-groomed, but longer fur sometimes needs that little bit extra. Unnoticed, tangles or even felted areas can develop, which is something the cat cannot solve itself. Without help, these tangles and felting can become problematic, which is why many cats are taken to a cat groomer. However, with four cats in the house, the cat groomer's bill can quickly add up, so I try to do as much as possible myself.

To avoid regular and expensive visits to the cat groomer, I have implemented daily checks that keep my cats' fur in optimal condition. In this post, I would like to explain what I do every day to care for my cats' fur.

Inspection of the coat

The first step I always do is a fairly simple inspection of the coat. I use my fingertips to carefully feel the entire coat of the boys and detect any irregularities or incipient knots. This method is more than just a pat on their coat, but really a way to detect if there are (incipient) tangles that could become a problem.

The boys often come to be cuddled and then I take a moment every now and then to check their coat. They get the attention they ask for and I can monitor their coat a bit. Not to mention, it is a nice way to strengthen our daily bond and to monitor their well-being. While feeling, I look at what the cat wants and make sure it is experienced as pleasant. If the boys indicate that they don't want it, I will of course stop immediately.

Sanitary check

This step is perhaps the least fun check I do every day, but it is certainly a crucial part of our daily maintenance routine. I check the back of the boys daily (and often several times a day). Especially with (semi)longhaired cats, something can sometimes get stuck to the pants (or tail), which is not only unhygienic, but can also lead to irritation or infection. What can also happen is that they leave it on one of your furniture or rugs and I want to prevent that with my daily check. By keeping track of this daily and cleaning it if necessary, we avoid discomfort and possible drastic measures.

Combing out the collars

This step is perhaps not the most crucial point in their daily care, but it is something that I pay special attention to every day. I notice, especially with Ragdolls, that they sometimes have trouble with the long hair on their collars. It gets stuck to the tongue and the curls tangle a bit faster, especially when they are wet. Before they really become felted spots, I comb them out every day. I don't know if it helps much, but it seems to help them for a while.

It is important that our daily rituals are experienced as enjoyable and not forced. For example, I always look at the cat to see what he (or she) will or will not allow. There are times when they do not want it and then I do not do it either.

By performing these grooming rituals daily, I hope to ensure that I keep any coat problems under control. In this way, I can avoid a visit to the professional cat groomer. If necessary, we will of course still go, but as long as we do not have to, I save a lot of stress - which keeps us all happy.